History Made: Kazenoyoni Second in the Grade 1 Premiers Champion Stakes

On Saturday 26 July 2026, the black, pink maltese cross and blue of SAPFS was carried into a Grade 1 race for the very first time — the Premiers Champion Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville — and our brilliant juvenile Kazenoyoni made sure the occasion will never be forgotten.

Sent off at 25/1 over the 1600m of South Africa's premier juvenile contest, the Duncan Howells-trained son of Danon Platina travelled beautifully for Muzi Yeni and threw everything at the leaders in the closing stages, failing by just 0.30 lengths to catch the winner, Erik Dubois. In the syndicate's first appearance at racing's highest level, our horse was beaten less than half a length.

It capped a remarkable first season for Kazenoyoni, who broke his maiden at Scottsville in March and has since run second in the Juvenile Plate at Scottsville and the Gatecrasher Stakes at Greyville before stepping up to Graded company. To be running on at the finish of the Premiers Champion Stakes as a two-year-old suggests the best is still to come.

This is what the syndicate was built for. From a group of racing enthusiasts on a punters forum to a Grade 1 exacta finish at Greyville — every member owns a piece of this moment. Congratulations to trainer Duncan Howells, jockey Muzi Yeni, and above all to every SAPFS member who dared to dream this big.

Onwards — the first Grade 1 run is in the books. The first Grade 1 win is next.